Kaspar Companies: Learning & Development Manager

Kaspar Companies•Shiner, TX

About The Position

Kaspar Companies is seeking a hands-on Learning and Development Manager to develop leadership capability and prepare future leaders across its businesses. Working within the Kaspar Business System (KBS), the role designs development programs for emerging leaders, experienced hires, and executives, combining curriculum, coaching, and applied business experience. The manager teaches the mental models, systems, and tools employees need to create value and works with leaders to strengthen judgment and performance. The position partners with KBS, the Kaizen Promotion Office (KPO), HR, and business leaders to build and manage Kaspar University and connect learning to organizational work. It develops and maintains learning pathways, content, standard work, and supporting systems; trains and coaches managers who develop employees; facilitates learning through coaching, group sessions, formal training, applied projects, and Kaizen events; and evaluates whether learning changes behavior and business results. Kaspar Companies is a fifth-generation, family-owned group of businesses founded in Shiner, Texas, in 1898. Its values are Family, Versatility, and Stewardship, and its businesses use KBS to connect lean thinking, leadership development, and continuous improvement. The company’s purpose is to improve lives by being faithful stewards of God-given resources. The role is primarily based in a professional office environment, with occasional exposure to manufacturing areas requiring PPE such as safety glasses and closed-toe shoes. Typical hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. The position may require long hours and occasional weekend work. Travel is primarily local during the business day, with some out-of-area and overnight travel expected. Work includes computer-based tasks, facilitating learning sessions, moving among office, training, and manufacturing areas, and occasionally handling or setting up training materials or equipment. Reasonable accommodations may be made for individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Requirements

Three years of combined professional experience in training, learning management systems, or lean principles, with demonstrated knowledge and application of lean thinking.
Experience designing and implementing leadership development programs for people at different career stages, including curriculum, applied learning, and readiness assessment.
Strong understanding of adult learning and instructional design, from identifying learning needs through measuring learning impact.
Ability to research alternatives and design training with measurable business goals.
Strong facilitation and presentation skills across individual coaching, small groups, and formal training.
Clear speaking and writing, active listening, and critical thinking.
Demonstrated leadership, communication, and influencing skills, including the ability to build stakeholder support.
Strong organization and time-management skills.
Ability to use multimedia learning platforms and varied training methods.
Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
Ability to travel, including some out-of-area and overnight travel.
Ability to perform the role’s described physical activities, with reasonable accommodations available as stated.

Nice To Haves

A bachelor's degree in a relevant field; relevant experience may substitute.
Experience developing or applying innovative learning tools that accelerate skill development, such as AI-supported learning, simulations, virtual reality, or augmented reality.

Responsibilities

Partner with the COO, KPO, and business leaders to build structured leadership development programs for frontline and emerging leaders, experienced hires preparing for defined roles, and executives.
Establish learning objectives, curriculum, practical assignments, progress checkpoints, and readiness criteria, adapting each development path to the individual, role, and business need.
Train and coach managers, supervisors, and others responsible for employee development to strengthen judgment, problem-solving, feedback, and team capability.
Develop and maintain Kaspar University learning pathways, content, standard work, and supporting systems that help employees understand and apply KBS.
Equip leaders to teach and reinforce KBS and connect KBS learning resources to leadership development programs.
Design and deliver adult learning through individual coaching, small groups, formal training, and applied projects with structured reflection.
Facilitate Kaizen events and coaching sessions, and follow up with leaders on resulting changes.
Set measurable learning goals, assess how learning is applied, and track effects on performance.
Maintain status updates and dashboards, communicate and promote learning initiatives, and recognize progress and strong performance.
Develop and test learning tools and experiences that shorten learning curves and help people apply what they learn; use innovative technology where it improves practice, feedback, or access and evaluate results.
Model the company's culture and philosophies and perform other duties assigned by management.